Electrolytic decomposing-cell.



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ELECTRULYTIG DEGOHPOSING CELL.

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vif/IIA Iliff/l No. 679,477. Patented July 30, |90I. J. W. KYNASTN.

ELECTRULYTIG DECOMPUSING CELL.

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ELECTBULYTIG DEGUIPOSING CELL.

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No. 679,477. f Patented luly 30', I90I.

J. W. KYNASTON.

ELECTRDLYTIG DECOHPOS|NG CELL,

(Applcatinn led Feb. 1, 1899.)

(In Model.)

co, nuovo-Ln' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH W. KYNASTON, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

ELECTROLYTIC DECOMPOSlNG-CELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N O. 679,477, dated. July30, 1901. Application tiled February 1, 1899, Serial No. 704,079.(Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JosrAH WYCKLIFEE KYNASTON, analytical chemist, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Liverpool, in thecounty of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrolytic Decomposing- Cells, of which the followingisa specification.

In the decomposition by electrolysis of solutions of alkaline chloridswhen metallic mercury is used as the cathode the production from a cellof given size has been relatively very small by reason of the nature ofthe liquid metal preventin git being placed in a vertical positionparallel with the anode,and the amount of mercury surface is thuslimited to the extent of the superficial area of the bottom of the cell.In order to obtain a better result, it has been proposed to have avertical layer of mercury between porous diaphragms; but thesediaphragms greatly increase the resistance of the cell,- the heavymercury cannot be maintained in position, and the difficulties inconstruction and working on such lines are so great as to be thoughtprohibitory. Another plan which has been proposed is to form a narrowhelical channel of mercury,the flow passing alternately partly aroundthe anode and then taking a turn through an oxidizing or denudingchamber. W' ith such an arrangement it is difficult to get anyincreasepof cathode-surface beyond that which the bottom of the cellwould provide, while the mercury running down the narrow sloping guttergains in impetus as it travels, breaks into short strings and globules,and thus the metallic continuity is destroyed even when the channels ofmercury are of considerable depth. It is evident from the very nature ofthe liquid metal that extensive surfaces of mercury can only be obtainedwhen it is spread in continuous layers on perfectly horizontal supportsand that the extent of surface can be increased to any required degreeby the system of superposed supports, which form the subject of myinvention.

NOW my invention differs greatly from what hasl gone before in that Iprovide very large surfaces of extremely thin mercury on, of course,horizontal trays arranged in series one above the other and so that themetallic sheet is maintained over the whole surface of the trays and themetallic continuity is unbroken. The mercury, passing into the cell atthe topmost shelf or shelves, travels by gravity over each shelf below,continually increasing in strength as it progresses to the bottom, andis Withdrawn from the cell as rich in alkali metal as it is possiblepractically to produceit. The motion of the mercury along the trays iseffected by gravity and is due to the affinity which the globules ofmercury have for each other when not subjected to agitation, theiradhesion to each other serving to maintain constantly a layer in thetrays, as it is continuously supplied at one end and withdrawn at theother. Hence the trays should be horizontal, or substantially so,wherebythe flow of the mercury will be slow and uniform and the continuity ofthe body of mercury throughout the series of trays preserved.

My invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan, ofwhat I call a single cell; Figs. 3 and 4, similar views of a doublecell, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of either single or doublecell.Fig. 6 is an elevation, partlyin section, showing the electricalconnections to the cathode.

In the drawings, A is a tank or cistern built up of lagstone, slate, orsimilar natural material, or I may use the artificial stone now commonlyproduced in large slabs or blocks. The stone forming the bottom of theinclosure must be of sufficient thickness and strength to bear withoutfear of fracture the weight to be placed upon it-that is, it must beconsiderably stronger than the sides, ends, and cover to be erected uponit. The joints are made tight by the insertion of india-rubber cord B ingrooves, and the structure is firmly braced by means of brackets O andbolts D, exactly in the manner employed in the construction ofhydrochloric-acid cisterns in alkali works.

In the simplest form of the cell (shown in Fig. l) the approximateinternal dimensions of the inclosure will be as follows: height abouthalf the length, and breadth about onesixth the length. For instance, ina cell of which the length is ten feet I make the height six feet andthe breadth one foot nine inches.

Upon each of the sides of such an inclosure and running the entirelength l arrange a series of narrow shelves E, of stone, natural orartificial, slate, glass, ebonite, vulcanite, or similar material, at adistance of a few inches from eachother, the uppermost shelf being aboutone foot from the top of the inclosure and the lowest three or fourinches from the bottom. The shelves are hollowed out on the uppersurface to the depth of about one-hali'inch, the depression reaching towithin one-quarter inch of the edges ofthe shelves. At the alternateends of each of adjacent shelves and three inches from the ends a ridgeF, one inch wide and one-eighth of an inch lower than the upper Aedge ofthe shelf, runs across it,

V`and inthe depression beyond the ridge a hole G, one inch in diameter,is bored through the shelf. lloles are bored through each of the sidesor ends of the inclosure at a short distance above the level of theuppermost of the shelves, and an earthenware pipe H for the conveyanceof mercury to the shelves is cemented firmly in the apertures. A hole Iis also bored through the stone forming the bottom of the inclosure, andthrough this K a wrought or cast iron pipe J, reaching to the uppersurface of the stone, isiirmly and tightly fixed. This pipe serves forthe withdrawal ot' the mercury amalgam from the cell'. K represents thecarbon anodes. are suspended through the cover of the inclosure in thecentral space between the shelves and extend to within a short distanceof the bottom of the cell. L represents pipes for carrying away thechlorin evolved and also 'for conveying the chlorid solution to andwithdrawing it from the cell. They are conveniently passed through thecover of thef cell', and the usual arrangements are provided formaintaining a constant level of solution within the cell. I prefer topass the solution into the cell at or near to its boiling-point oftemperature.

Figs. 3 and 4, showing the double cell, have their parts lettered thesame as the corresponding parts of Figs. l and 2 and only differ inhaving two anodes instead of one and between these two anodes a thirdseries of shelves, the breadth of each of which is the sum of the widthof two of the side' shelves.

It is obvious that in the same way a triple, quadruple, quintuple, the.,cell may be constructed.

In putting the cell into operation the chlorid solution is run into thecell until the uppermost of the shelves is well covered. Mercury is thenpassed in, and, falling upon the uppermost shelf of each series, itfills the depression tothe depth ot' about three-eighths of an inch andthen falls through the opening at the farther end to the next shelf, andso on until all the shelves are charged. The supply of mercury iscontinued until the bottom of the cell is also covered to the depth ofabout half an inch. Connection is now made between the suspended carbonand the posi- They A tive pole of an electric current and between themercury on the bottom of the celland the negative pole, the latter mostconveniently by means of the iron pipe through which the amalgam iswithdrawn from the cell. The iiow of mercury into the cell isV continuedin a constant stream so regulated that the alkali metal amalgam flowsout as rich in alkali metal as it is possible practically to produce it,while retaining perfect fluidity at the temperature at which the cell isworked. The chlorin evolved passes from the cell through the pipeprovided for its escape.

Under ordinary circumstances the electric current iiows freely throughthe amalgam on the bottom of the cell to that in the series of shelvesby means of the constant stream falling from one to the other; but Iprefer to place, the metal on each of the shelves in independentmetallic connection with each other of the series and the whole inindepend- 1 ent connection with the metal on the iioorof the cell. Itwill be understood, however", that this is not essential.

In thus describing my experimental apparatus l do not bind myself tothese exact details of arrangement, as it is obvious that the cell canbe made of other materials and of cylindrical or vother forni.

I declare that what I claim -is 1. An electrolytic decomposing-cellcomprising a series of superposed horizontal or substantially horizontaltrays each provided with an opening in one end arranged to def liver bygravity directly into the next tray beneath it, with the said openingsalternating with each other, said trays adapted to contain a continuousstream of mercury to serve as a cathode; and an upright anode.

2. An electrolytic decomposing-cell comprising a series of superposedhorizontal or substantially horizontal trays provided each with atransverse partition near one end, dividing the same into two portionsof diierent dimensions alternating with each other, the said trays beingprovided in the smaller portions with holes arranged to deliver directlyby gravity in the next tray beneath, and the said trays adapted tocontain a continuous stream of mercury to serve as a cathode and anupright anode.

3. -An electrolytic decomposing-cell comprising a series of superposedhorizontal or substantially horizontal trays formed each with an openingand arranged relatively to deliver by gravity directly to the next traybeneath, the said trays adapted to contain a continuous stream ofmercury to serve as a cathode; and an upright anode.

4. An electrolytic decomposing-cell consisting ot' a series ofsuperposed horizontal or substantially horizontal trays each formed todeliver by gravity directly to the next tray land over which traysmercury flows and covers the bottom of the cell and serves as a cathode;a vertical anode; means for introducing the mercury onto the topmosttray;

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means for establishing electrical connection between the anode andcathode; means for introducing the electrolyte into the cell andwithdrawing it from the same and for withdrawing the gas developed bythe passage of the current, and means for withdrawing the resultingamalgam from the bottom of the cell.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 21st day ofJanuary, 1899, in 1o the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. WV. KYNASTON.

Witnesses:

G. C. DYMOND, ALBERT C. B. HENRI.

